If you want to keep the journey time down, choose Jamaica, the Bahamas, St Lucia, Tobago, Antigua or Barbados, which are all served by non-stop flights from the UK. Antigua has the shortest flying time - less than eight hours - but the others are no more than nine. And if you don't fancy a long transfer choose Tobago, Barbados or north-west Jamaica, and be at your resort in less than 30 minutes.

Anse Chastanet, St Lucia

This is the perfect place to keep teenagers entertained. Set in a marine park, you can snorkel from the beach or learn to dive. There's also a mountain biking trail through nearby jungle. Caribtours (020 7751 0660) offers a free half-board stay for one child under 11, sharing a room with two adults, in July and August for £3,114, including return flights. A family of four sharing adjacent rooms will pay £5,344. Three free jungle biking passes and an introductory scuba course (or six dives for certified divers) areoffered for stays between 15 July and 20 September.

Almond Beach Village, Barbados

No child could be bored at this resort in western Barbados. The hotel has 10 swimming pools, two squash courts, four floodlit tennis courts, snorkelling, windsurfing, kayaks and banana boats. A children's playground and pool, an activity centre for five to 12-year-olds and a nursery for those under four complete the line-up. Virgin (0870 220 2468) offers seven nights' all-inclusive accommodation from £1,059 per person, including scheduled flights from Gatwick and transfers. Prices for the under-12s start at £249.

Round Hill, Jamaica

Children of all ages are catered for at this resort in north-western Jamaica, only 30 minutes from the airport.

It has a free summer tennis clinic. There are watersports for older children, while the Pineapple Kids' Club caters for those aged from three to 11.

Each villa has its own cook, maid and gardener, and most have private pools. Carrier (01625 547020) offers a two-bedroom villa with private pool for £2,160 per adult and £480 per child under 12 in August. The prices include return flights and private transfers.

Sea Shell Villas, Bon Accord, Tobago

This family-friendly complex is near shops and restaurants, and a 20-minute walk from the beach at Pigeon Point. Each three-bedroom villa has a private pool, and babysitting and cooks can be arranged. Cots and high chairs are available for rent. The Owners' Syndicate (020 7801 9801) offers a week's stay from £743 per person, based on six people sharing, between 17 and 31 August.

Starfish Trelawny, Jamaica

This three-star, all-inclusive resort has numerous swimming pools with water slides, a daily club for the under-12s, banana boat rides and tennis coaching. Thomson Holidays (0870 5502555) has 14 nights, departing from Gatwick on 26 August from £899 per adult and £439 per child.